Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Comprehend'

English Word: comprehend

Key Russian Translations:

• понимать [pənʲɪˈmatʲ] - [Informal, General Use]
• осознавать [ɐsəznɐˈvatʲ] - [Formal, Reflective]
• уразуметь [ʊrɐˈzumʲɪtʲ] - [Archaic, Literary]

Frequency: High (for понимать); Medium (for осознавать); Low (for уразуметь)

Difficulty: A2 (понимать); B1 (осознавать); C1 (уразуметь)

Pronunciation (Russian):

понимать: [pənʲɪˈmatʲ]

Note on понимать: Stress falls on the second syllable. The soft 'н' sound can be tricky for non-native speakers.

осознавать: [ɐsəznɐˈvatʲ]

Note on осознавать: Stress on the fourth syllable. Pay attention to the unstressed 'о' pronounced as 'ə'.

уразуметь: [ʊrɐˈzumʲɪtʲ]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To understand or grasp a concept or idea

Translation(s) & Context:

• понимать - Commonly used in everyday speech for general understanding.
• осознавать - Used for deeper, more conscious realization or comprehension.

Usage Examples:

• Я не могу понять эту задачу.

  I can’t comprehend this problem.

• Он начал понимать важность учёбы.

  He started to comprehend the importance of studying.

• Она осознала свою ошибку только через годы.

  She comprehended her mistake only years later.

• Трудно понять, что он имеет в виду.

  It’s hard to comprehend what he means.

• Мы должны осознать последствия наших действий.

  We must comprehend the consequences of our actions.

2. To understand in a literary or formal context (rare)

Translation(s) & Context:

• уразуметь - Used in old texts or religious contexts for profound understanding.

Usage Examples:

• Да уразумеют они пути Господни.

  Let them comprehend the ways of the Lord.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

понимать (Imperfective Verb):

Person	Present Tense	Past Tense (Masc./Fem./Neut./Plural)
1st Singular	понимаю	понимал / понимала / понимало / понимали
2nd Singular	понимаешь	понимал / понимала / понимало / понимали
3rd Singular	понимает	понимал / понимала / понимало / понимали

Note: Perfective form is "понять" (to have understood).

осознавать (Imperfective Verb): Follows similar conjugation patterns to понимать. Perfective form is "осознать".

уразуметь (Perfective Verb): Rarely used in modern Russian; conjugation is archaic and context-specific.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for понимать:

• разбираться
• вникать

Note: "разбираться" often implies figuring something out; "вникать" suggests delving into details.

Antonyms for понимать:

• не понимать
• игнорировать

Related Phrases:

• понимать с полуслова - to comprehend with half a word (to understand someone very well).
• осознать важность - to comprehend the importance (to realize something significant).
• не могу понять - I can’t comprehend (common expression of confusion).

Usage Notes:

• "понимать" is the most versatile and commonly used translation for "comprehend" in everyday contexts. It fits both literal and figurative understanding.
• "осознавать" implies a deeper, often emotional or reflective understanding, and is more formal.
• "уразуметь" is outdated and typically found in religious or classical literature. Avoid using it in modern conversation.
• Russian verbs of understanding often pair with the accusative case for direct objects (e.g., "понимать проблему").

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "осознавать" in casual speech for simple understanding. Incorrect: "Я осознаю эту шутку" (I comprehend this joke). Correct: "Я понимаю эту шутку". Explanation: "осознавать" is too formal and heavy for light contexts like jokes.
• Error: Forgetting aspectual differences between "понимать" (ongoing) and "понять" (completed). Incorrect: "Я понял эту тему вчера, но всё ещё не понимаю." Correct: "Я понял эту тему вчера, но всё ещё не до конца её понимаю." Explanation: Use the imperfective for ongoing lack of understanding.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressing understanding or lack thereof can be tied to politeness. Saying "Я понимаю" (I comprehend) is often used to show empathy or agreement in conversations, even if full comprehension isn’t achieved. Russians may also use gestures or phrases like "понятно" (understood) to confirm they’re following a discussion.

Related Concepts:

• воспринимать (to perceive)
• соображать (to figure out)
• догадываться (to guess)